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Hey guys, back in the game again now that summers around the corner. Bimmers comin out soon

so for this year im planning on dropping her for sure and hopefully a chip. I would like to look into a upgraded steering rack and a higher ratio diff. Im wondering if either of these will make a big difference. I was thinking a m3 rack and a 318 auto 4.45 diff(if thats correct)

So any info on those to mods from people doing them or if they like it or not would be nice.

PS not going to swap it, so dont even say it lol she only has 168k and runs like a charm

I contemplated a swap several times, but decided to keep it light weight in the end, and just take driving lessons. These cars are made to be driven by someone who knows how to drive it around the track. That's when you see the true potential of what a slow 4cyl lightweight 318is can do.

Car looks super clean though. I wish my paint looked like that still! I might suggest US or Euro ellipsoids. I can actually see at night now!

you want to find a 4.27 diff, not easy but worth it, and get a Mark D chip, he's on the baord, just go with an e36 rack, its a lot cheaper and easier to find then an M3 one, and only .2 turns different. Stay away from the z3/4 rack, only reason its shorter is cause it doesn't actually turn as much as an E36 one.

my e30 should be out storage in a bit, if you want a ride to see how the mark d chip and 4.27 diff are, come to the april 11th auto cross, there will be a few other 318is cars there with slightly different mods, you will get a chance to see how they all do.

question about the steering rack, all the swap ive found have been done to no air bag cars. It seems you need to make a custom bracket to make it work with a air bag. If i remove the air bag do i need to do this

you want to find a 4.27 diff, not easy but worth it, and get a Mark D chip, he's on the baord, just go with an e36 rack, its a lot cheaper and easier to find then an M3 one, and only .2 turns different. Stay away from the z3/4 rack, only reason its shorter is cause it doesn't actually turn as much as an E36 one.

I did some reading after we talked about this at Downsview, and I believe this is not quite correct. The 2.7 turn z3 rack *does* turn less, but that's not the only reason it's faster. It is just as fast as the '95 M3 rack, but you get less final wheel deflection, hence the quicker lock to lock. So Ideally a '95 M3 rack, but if you are tracking the car a Z3 rack is just as good... if you are doing U-Turns in the city and tight autocross circuits the 3.2 turn e36 rack might be better because you get a tighter turning circle than the z3-- but not quite as quick a ratio. Dig?

I have no solid sources for this on hand but thought I would pipe up anyway.

I did some reading after we talked about this at Downsview, and I believe this is not quite correct. The 2.7 turn z3 rack *does* turn less, but that's not the only reason it's faster. It is just as fast as the '95 M3 rack, but you get less final wheel deflection, hence the quicker lock to lock. So Ideally a '95 M3 rack, but if you are tracking the car a Z3 rack is just as good... if you are doing U-Turns in the city and tight autocross circuits the 3.2 turn e36 rack might be better because you get a tighter turning circle than the z3-- but not quite as quick a ratio. Dig?

I have no solid sources for this on hand but thought I would pipe up anyway.

from what i have been told they are the same racks, just the stops which control total distance traveled are different resulting in 2.7 turn instead of 3.2turns. same speend less distance traveled

So any E36 rack will bolt right in, that's good news. I have a couple of questions though:
1. which tie rods do you use? Are they the same or do you have to use E36 or E30 inners and outers?
2. Do you have to shorten the steering knuckle or does it just move the wheel a bit closer to the driver? I am doing the swap in a race car so I may be building an adjustable slotted mount at the wheel end to adjust the wheel height. If I just need to compensate for the length there then I may leave the knuckle alone.